The walk-away winners of our “sweatiest band in Boston” award, Pariah Beat came into our living room like a combination traveling carnival and revival meeting caught in in a tornado. Don’t let the traditional Americana roots of their music lead you astray – they performed in our living room with more energy than almost any band we’ve seen live in quite some time. Ranging from old Shaker hymns to Squirrel Nut Zippers-style mishmash jazz to a version of The Beverly Hillbillies theme that I didn’t even recognize at the time, Pariah Beat definitely has the cure for what ails you.

Song List:

1. I’ve Seen the Light
2. Hymn #2
3. Front Porch
4. City Far Away
5. Tipperary
6. The Beverly Hillbillies
7. Elvis in Jerusalem
8. Sinners and Saints
9. Babylon is Fallen
10. Waltz

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

I suppose you’d call Brooklyn’s (The) Slowest Runner (In All The World) a progressive rock/experimental/classical…. uhh… Well forget that, I’d call them the perfect soundtrack to an epic film. Consisting of guitar, bass, drums, piano, violin, cello, tape loops, vocals that are barely recognizable as human, and samples, they craft sweeping textures that will give you goosebumps. I found myself expecting to hear the wave of applause that normally follows a performance at the symphony. And the sounds of creaking floorboards should give you an idea of how delicately they approached their session!

Song List:

1. Intro >
2. Sea Swells
3. 5 Violinsk
4. Classical Slave >
5. Interlude >
6. Hares Hares
7. This is Water
   

http://www.myspace.com/slowestrunnerinalltheworld

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Saint Solitude is one Dup Crosson from North Carolina, a guitar, a keyboard, and some pedals. Keep in mind that none of his loops are pre-recorded. He performs, records, and loops them as the song evolves. While most musicians who use that technique have trouble keeping the result from running away from them, Dup’s layering builds cohesive and thought-out songs that never veer too far into experiment-ville. Dig it.

Song List:

1. Give It A Name
2. Soft Contact
3. Let’s Try It
4. Flocking Disaster
5. The Afterlife is a Slideshow
6. Domino Destroy

saintsolitude.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Josh Kaufman (who is also a member of Rocketship Park) came in several months earlier with Higgins, so we knew we were going to to like his solo stuff. When he came back, he brought a few friends that he was touring with: Mike Kinsella, who goes by Owen; Caithlin De Marrais; and Lara Meyerratken, better known as El May. While during the tour they largely played seperately, they decided to learn a few of each others songs just for us. And you. Of course.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Murder Mystery is from Detroit, and they have that gnarly vibe that only Detroit bands can seem to muster. But, you know, fun.

Song List:

1. Brick Patio
2. Join Together
3. Vacuum Cleaner Salesman
4. Bears
5. Lordy
6. Rock n Roll

Murder MySpacetery

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

We’ve been sitting on this session for WAY too long. We had The Devil, My Pocket (from Providence, RI) stop by over a year ago when it consisted of just Tim and Katie. We’re pretty sure they hadn’t even played a gig yet. They have since grown to a 5-piece band and hit the road pretty heavily. So here’s your chance to step into the time machine and hear a few of their tunes while they were still in their infancy!

On the web:
http://thedevilmypocket.com/
http://www.myspace.com/thedevilmypocket

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

While the rest of the gang headed back to NYC, Blake and Cal from Akudama were kind enough to stop by and crank out a few cover tunes, as well as a nice mellow version of one of their own. They were in and out of the house so fast that we didn’t even get a photo. Luckily the proverbial tape was rolling. You can always look at one of their other sessions if you want to see what they look like.

Song List:

1. Waiting for My Man (by The Velvet Underground)
2. The Only Living Boy in New York (by Paul Simon)
3. Walk on By (by Dionne Warwick)
4. People

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

BoomSnake is officially two guys from San Diego, but for their just-completed tour, they expanded to a 5-piece. They also inadvertantly found out which of our air mattresses had holes in them.

Song List:

1. Busy
2. Sticks Stones & Animal Bones
3. My Way
4. Totem Tale Blues
5. Sample Demolition
6. Excuses

BoomSnake on MySpace

Podcast: Play in new window | Download